1. Makkabeler 9

¹Demetrios, Nikanor'un ve ordularının savaşta can verdiğini duyunca, Bakhides ile Alkimus'u ve onlarla birlikte ordunun sağ kanadını ikinci kez Yahuda ülkesine göndermeyi tekrarladı.

²Galgala'ya giden yoldan ilerleyerek Arbela'daki Mesalot'un karşısında ordugah kurdular; orayı önceden ele geçirip pek çok insanı katlettiler.

³Yüz elli ikinci yılın birinci ayında Yeruşalim'in yakınına ordugah kurdular.

⁴Oradan ayrılıp yirmi bin yaya ve iki bin süvariden oluşan bir birlikle Berea'ya doğru ilerlediler.

⁵Yahuda ise Elasa'da ordugah kurmuştu ve yanında seçkin üç bin kişi vardı.

⁶Karşı ordunun kalabalığını ve ne kadar çok olduklarını görünce dehşete kapıldılar; birçoğu ordugahtan sessizce sızıp gitti, geriye sadece sekiz yüz kişi kaldı.

⁷Yahuda, ordusunun dağıldığını ve savaşın kendisini sıkıştırdığını görünce yüreği paramparça oldu; çünkü onları bir araya getirecek zamanı yoktu.

⁸Gücü tükendi ama geride kalanlara şöyle dedi: "Kalkın, düşmanlarımızın üzerine yürüyelim; belki onlarla savaşabiliriz."

⁹Ama onu vazgeçirmeye çalışarak şöyle dediler: "Bunu yapamayız! Şimdilik kendi canlarımızı kurtaralım, sonra kardeşlerimizle birlikte geri dönüp onlara karşı savaşırız; çünkü biz çok azız."

¹⁰Yahuda şöyle yanıtladı: "Onlardan kaçmak benden uzak olsun! Eğer vaktimiz geldiyse, kardeşlerimiz uğruna yiğitçe ölelim ve şerefimize bir leke sürmeyelim."

¹¹Ordu ordugahtan çıkıp onların karşısında saf tuttu. Süvari birliği ikiye bölündü, sapan atanlar ile okçular ordunun önünde ilerliyordu; en ön safta ise en güçlü savaşçılar vardı.

¹²Bakhides sağ kanattaydı. Savaş düzeni her iki taraftan yaklaştı ve borazanlar çalındı.

¹³Yahuda'nın yanındakiler de borazanlarını çaldılar. Orduların gürültüsünden yer sarsıldı ve savaş sabahtan akşama dek kesintisiz sürdü.

¹⁴Yahuda, Bakhides'in ve ordunun sağlam merkezinin sağ kanatta olduğunu görünce, yürekli olanların hepsi onun etrafında toplandı.

¹⁵Sağ kanadı bozguna uğrattılar ve onları Azotos Dağı'na kadar kovaladılar.

¹⁶Sol kanattakiler, sağ kanadın bozguna uğradığını görünce dönüp Yahuda ile yanındakileri arkadan yakından takip etmeye başladılar.

¹⁷Savaş ağırlaştı ve her iki taraftan da pek çok kişi yaralanıp düştü.

¹⁸Yahuda da düştü ve geri kalanlar kaçtı.

¹⁹Yonatan ile Şimon, kardeşleri Yahuda'nın cenazesini alıp onu Modein'deki atalarının mezarına gömdüler.

²⁰Bütün İsrail onun için ağlayıp büyük yas tuttu. Günlerce yas tutarak şöyle dediler:

²¹"İsrail'i kurtaran o yiğit nasıl da düştü!"

²²Yahuda'nın diğer işleri, yaptığı savaşlar, gösterdiği yiğitlikler ve büyüklüğü kayda geçirilmedi; çünkü bunlar sayılamayacak kadar çoktu.

²³Yahuda'nın ölümünden sonra, yasa tanımazlar İsrail'in her bölgesinde baş gösterdi ve kötülük yapanların hepsi ortaya çıktı.

²⁴O günlerde çok büyük bir kıtlık oldu, öyle ki ülke halkı da onlarla birlikte saf değiştirdi.

²⁵Bakhides tanrısız adamları seçip onları ülkenin yöneticileri yaptı.

²⁶Bunlar Yahuda'nın dostlarını arayıp tarıyor ve onları Bakhides'e götürüyorlardı; o da onlardan öç alıyor ve onlarla alay ediyordu.

²⁷Böylece İsrail'de, aralarında bir peygamberin görülmediği günden beri eşi benzeri görülmemiş büyük bir sıkıntı yaşandı.

²⁸Bunun üzerine Yahuda'nın bütün dostları bir araya gelip Yonatan'a şöyle dediler:

²⁹"Kardeşin Yahuda öldüğünden beri, düşmanlarımıza, Bakhides'e ve ulusumuza düşmanlık edenlere karşı savaşa çıkacak onun gibi bir adamımız yok.

³⁰Bu yüzden bugün, onun yerine bizim önderimiz ve komutanımız olman, savaşlarımızı yönetmen için seni seçtik."

³¹Yonatan o sırada önderliği kabul etti ve kardeşi Yahuda'nın yerine geçti.

³²Bakhides bunu öğrenince onu öldürmenin yollarını aradı.

³³Yonatan, kardeşi Şimon ve yanındakilerin hepsi bunu öğrenince Tekoa Çölü'ne kaçtılar ve Asfar Sarnıcı'nın sularının yanında ordugah kurdular.

³⁴Bakhides bunu Şabat gününde öğrendi ve kendisiyle birlikte tüm ordusu Şeria Irmağı'nın ötesine geçti.

³⁵Yonatan, halkın önderi olan kardeşi Yuhanna'yı göndererek dostları Nebatiler'den, yanlarındaki çok sayıdaki eşyayı kendilerine emanet etmelerini rica etti.

³⁶Ancak Medeba'dan çıkan Yambri oğulları Yuhanna'yı ve sahip olduğu her şeyi ele geçirip yanlarında götürdüler.

³⁷Bu olaydan sonra Yonatan ile kardeşi Şimon'a şu haber ulaştı: "Yambri oğulları büyük bir düğün yapıyorlar ve Kenan'ın büyük soylularından birinin kızını, yani gelini, büyük bir alayla Nadabat'tan getiriyorlar."

³⁸Bunun üzerine kardeşleri Yuhanna'yı hatırladılar, dağa çıkıp yamacın kuytusunda gizlendiler.

³⁹Başlarını kaldırıp baktıklarında büyük bir gürültü ve kalabalık bir kervan gördüler; damat, dostları ve kardeşleriyle birlikte, tefler, müzisyenler ve pek çok silah eşliğinde onları karşılamaya çıkmıştı.

⁴⁰Yonatan ve yanındakiler pusudan fırlayıp onlara saldırdılar ve onları katlettiler; pek çok kişi yaralanıp düştü, geri kalanlar ise dağa kaçtı. Onların bütün mallarını yağmaladılar.

⁴¹Böylece düğün yasa, müzisyenlerinin sesi de ağıta dönüştü.

⁴²Kardeşlerinin kanının öcünü tam olarak aldıktan sonra Şeria Irmağı'nın sazlığına geri döndüler.

⁴³Bakhides bunu duyunca, Şabat gününde büyük bir orduyla Şeria Irmağı'nın kıyılarına kadar geldi.

⁴⁴Yonatan yanındakilere şöyle dedi: "Kalkın, şimdi canımız için savaşalım; çünkü bugün durumumuz dün ve önceki günkü gibi değil.

⁴⁵İşte savaş hem önümüzde hem arkamızda; bir yanımızda Şeria Irmağı'nın suları, diğer yanımızda sazlık ve orman var, kaçacak hiçbir yerimiz yok.

⁴⁶Şimdi göklere feryat edin ki, düşmanlarınızın elinden kurtulabilesiniz."

⁴⁷Savaş başladı; Yonatan, Bakhides'i vurmak için elini uzattı ama Bakhides geri çekilerek ondan kaçındı.

⁴⁸Bunun üzerine Yonatan ve yanındakiler Şeria Irmağı'na atlayıp karşı kıyıya yüzdüler; düşmanlar ise ırmağı geçip onların peşinden gelmedi.

⁴⁹O gün Bakhides'in adamlarından yaklaşık bin kişi öldü.

⁵⁰Bakhides Yeruşalim'in yolunu tuttu ve Yahuda'da surlarla çevrili kentler inşa etti: Eriha'daki kaleyi, Emmaus'u, Beythoron'u, Beytel'i, Timnata-Paraton'u ve Tefon'u yüksek surlar, kapılar ve sürgülerle güçlendirdi.

⁵¹İsrail'e düşmanlık etmeleri için buralara askeri garnizonlar yerleştirdi.

⁵²Beytsur kentini, Gezer'i ve kaleyi de güçlendirip buralara askerler yerleştirdi ve yiyecek stokları koydu.

⁵³Ülkenin önderlerinin oğullarını rehin alarak onları Yeruşalim'deki kalede gözaltında tuttu.

⁵⁴Yüz elli üçüncü yılın ikinci ayında Alkimus, tapınağın iç avlusunun duvarının yıkılmasını buyurdu; böylece peygamberlerin eserlerini yıktı ve yıkım işine başladı.

⁵⁵Tam o sırada Alkimus felç geçirdi ve işleri engellendi; ağzı kapandı, inme indiği için artık tek bir söz bile söyleyemez ve eviyle ilgili talimat veremez oldu.

⁵⁶Böylece Alkimus o sırada büyük acılar içinde öldü.

⁵⁷Bakhides, Alkimus'un öldüğünü görünce kralın yanına döndü. Böylece Yahuda ülkesi iki yıl boyunca barış içinde kaldı.

⁵⁸Bütün yasa tanımazlar aralarında anlaşıp şöyle dedi: "İşte Yonatan ve yanındakiler güvenlik içinde, tasasızca yaşıyorlar. Şimdi Bakhides'i buraya getirelim, o da hepsini tek bir gecede yakalasın."

⁵⁹Gidip onunla görüştüler ve bu konuda anlaştılar.

⁶⁰Bakhides büyük bir orduyla yola çıktı ve Yahuda'daki bütün müttefiklerine, Yonatan ile yanındakileri yakalamaları için gizlice mektuplar gönderdi. Ancak bunu başaramadılar, çünkü tasarıları Yonatan ve adamları tarafından öğrenilmişti.

⁶¹Yonatan'ın adamları, bu kötülüğün başı olan ülke halkından yaklaşık elli kişiyi yakalayıp öldürdüler.

⁶²Ardından Yonatan, Şimon ve yanındakiler çöldeki Beytbasi'ye çekildiler; oranın yıkık yerlerini onarıp kaleyi güçlendirdiler.

⁶³Bakhides bunu öğrenince bütün ordusunu topladı ve Yahuda'dakilere haber gönderdi.

⁶⁴Gelip Beytbasi'nin karşısında ordugah kurdu, günlerce oraya karşı savaştı ve kuşatma makineleri yaptı.

⁶⁵Yonatan, kardeşi Şimon'u kentte bırakıp kendisi az sayıda adamla kırsal bölgeye çıktı.

⁶⁶Odomera'yı, kardeşlerini ve Fasiron oğullarını çadırlarında vurdu; sonra da kendi kuvvetleriyle düşmana saldırmaya ve ilerlemeye başladı.

⁶⁷Şimon ve yanındakiler de kentten çıkıp kuşatma makinelerini ateşe verdiler.

⁶⁸Bakhides'e karşı savaştılar ve onu bozguna uğrattılar. Onu büyük bir sıkıntıya soktular, çünkü onun tasarıları ve saldırısı boşa çıkmıştı.

⁶⁹Bakhides, kendisini bu ülkeye gelmeye teşvik eden yasa tanımaz adamlara çok öfkelendi; onlardan birçoğunu öldürdü ve kendi ülkesine dönmeye karar verdi.

⁷⁰Yonatan bunu öğrenince, kendisiyle barış yapmak ve tutsakları geri almak üzere ona elçiler gönderdi.

⁷¹Bakhides bunu kabul etti, onun sözlerine göre davrandı ve ömrü boyunca ona hiçbir kötülük yapmayacağına dair ant içti.

⁷²Daha önce Yahuda ülkesinden aldığı tutsakları geri verdi; sonra dönüp kendi ülkesine gitti ve bir daha onların sınırlarına ayak basmadı.

⁷³Böylece İsrail'de savaş kılıcı dindi. Yonatan Mikmas'ta yaşadı, halkı yönetmeye başladı ve tanrısızları İsrail'den temizledi.

¹ΚΑΙ ἤκουσε Δημήτριος ὅτι ἔπεσε Νικάνωρ καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτοῦ ἐν πολέμῳ, καὶ προσέθετο τὸν Βακχίδην καὶ τὸν ῎Αλκιμον ἐκ δευτέρου ἀποστεῖλαι εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα καὶ τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας μετ᾿ αὐτῶν.

²καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὁδὸν τὴν εἰς Γάλγαλα καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐπὶ Μαισαλὼθ τὴν ἐν ᾿Αρβήλοις καὶ προκατελάβοντο αὐτὴν καὶ ἀπώλεσαν ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπων πολλάς.

³καὶ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου ἔτους τοῦ δευτέρου καὶ πεντηκοστοῦ καὶ ἑκατοστοῦ παρενέβαλον ἐπὶ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ·

⁴καὶ ἀπῇραν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς Βερέαν ἐν εἴκοσι χιλιάσιν ἀνδρῶν καὶ δισχιλίᾳ ἵππῳ.

⁵καὶ ᾿Ιούδας ἦν παρεμβεβληκὼς ἐν ᾿Ελασά, καὶ τρισχίλιοι ἄνδρες ἐκλεκτοὶ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

⁶καὶ εἶδον τὸ πλῆθος τῶν δυνάμεων ὅτι πολλοί εἰσι, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα· καὶ ἐξερρύησαν πολλοὶ ἀπὸ τῆς παρεμβολῆς, οὐ κατελείφθησαν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ὀκτακόσιοι ἄνδρες.

⁷καὶ εἶδεν ᾿Ιούδας ὅτι ἀπερρύη ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ πόλεμος ἔθλιβεν αὐτόν, καὶ συνετρίβη τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι οὐκ εἶχε καιρὸν συναγαγεῖν αὐτούς,

⁸καὶ ἐξελύθη καὶ εἶπε τοῖς καταλειφθεῖσιν· ἀναστῶμεν καὶ ἀναβῶμεν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὑπεναντίους ἡμῶν, ἐὰν ἄρα δυνώμεθα πολεμῆσαι αὐτούς.

⁹καὶ ἀπέστρεφον αὐτὸν λέγοντες· οὐ μὴ δυνώμεθα, ἀλλ᾿ ἢ σῴζωμεν τὰς ἑαυτῶν ψυχὰς τὸ νῦν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωμεν μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν καὶ πολεμήσωμεν πρὸς αὐτούς, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀλίγοι.

¹⁰καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιούδας· μή μοι γένοιτο ποιῆσαι τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο, φυγεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰ ἤγγικεν ὁ καιρὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀποθάνωμεν ἐν ἀνδρείᾳ χάριν τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν καὶ μὴ καταλίπωμεν αἰτίαν τῇ δόξῃ ἡμῶν.

¹¹καὶ ἀπῇρεν ἡ δύναμις ἀπὸ τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ ἔστησαν εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμερίσθη ἡ ἵππος εἰς δύο μέρη, καὶ οἱ σφενδονῆται καὶ οἱ τοξόται προεπορεύοντο τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ οἱ πρωταγωνισταὶ πάντες οἱ δυνατοί·

¹²Βακχίδης δὲ ἦν ἐν τῷ δεξιῷ κέρατι. καὶ ἤγγισεν ἡ φάλαγξ ἐκ τῶν δύο μερῶν καὶ ἐφώνουν ταῖς σάλπιγξι,

¹³καὶ ἐσάλπισαν οἱ παρὰ ᾿Ιούδᾳ καὶ αὐτοὶ ταῖς σάλπιγξι· καὶ ἐσαλεύθη ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τῆς φωνῆς τῶν παρεμβολῶν, καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ πόλεμος συνημμένος ἀπὸ πρωΐθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας.

¹⁴καὶ εἶδεν ᾿Ιούδας ὅτι Βακχίδης καὶ τὸ στερέωμα τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, καὶ συνῆλθον αὐτῷ πάντες οἱ εὔψυχοι τῇ καρδίᾳ,

¹⁵καὶ συνετρίβη τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐδίωκεν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἕως ᾿Αζώτου ὄρους.

¹⁶καὶ εἰς τὸ ἀριστερὸν κέρας εἶδον ὅτι συνετρίβη τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν κατὰ πόδας ᾿Ιούδα καὶ τῶν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν.

¹⁷καὶ ἐβαρύνθη ὁ πόλεμος, καὶ ἔπεσον τραυματίαι πολλοὶ ἐκ τούτων καὶ ἐκ τούτων.

¹⁸καὶ ᾿Ιούδας ἔπεσε, καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἔφυγον.

¹⁹καὶ ᾖραν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ Σίμων ᾿Ιούδαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἐν Μωδεΐν.

²⁰καὶ ἔκλαυσαν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκόψαντο αὐτὸν πᾶς ᾿Ισραὴλ κοπετὸν μέγαν καὶ ἐπένθουν ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ εἶπον·

²¹πῶς ἔπεσε δυνατὸς σῴζων τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ;

²²καὶ τὰ περισσὰ τῶν λόγων ᾿Ιούδα καὶ τῶν πολέμων καὶ τῶν ἀνδραγαθιῶν, ὧν ἐποίησε, καὶ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης αὐτῶν οὐ κατεγράφη, πολλὰ γὰρ ἦν σφόδρα.

²³Καὶ ἐγένετο, μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν ᾿Ιούδα ἐξέκυψαν οἱ ἄνομοι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἀνέτειλαν πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀδικίαν.

²⁴ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐγενήθη λιμὸς μέγας σφόδρα, καὶ ηὐτομόλησεν ἡ χώρα μετ᾿ αὐτῶν.

²⁵καὶ ἐξέλεξε Βακχίδης τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς ἄνδρας καὶ κατέστησεν αὐτοὺς κυρίους τῆς χώρας.

²⁶καὶ ἐξεζήτουν καὶ ἐξηρεύνων τοὺς φίλους ᾿Ιούδα καὶ ἦγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς Βακχίδην, καὶ ἐξεδίκει ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐνέπαιζεν αὐτοῖς.

²⁷καὶ ἐγένετο θλῖψις μεγάλη ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ, ἥτις οὐκ ἐγένετο ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας οὐκ ὤφθη προφήτης ἐν αὐτοῖς.

²⁸καὶ ἠθροίσθησαν πάντες οἱ φίλοι ᾿Ιούδα καὶ εἶπον τῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν·

²⁹ἀφ᾿ οὗ ὁ ἀδελφός σου ᾿Ιούδας τετελεύτηκε, καὶ ἀνὴρ ὅμοιος αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξελθεῖν πρὸς τοὺς ἐχθροὺς καὶ Βακχίδην, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐχθραίνουσιν τοῦ ἔθνους ἡμῶν·

³⁰νῦν οὖν σε ᾑρετισάμεθα σήμερον τοῦ εἶναι ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἡμῖν εἰς ἄρχοντα καὶ ἡγούμενον τοῦ πολεμῆσαι τὸν πόλεμον ἡμῶν.

³¹καὶ ἐπεδέξατο ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ τὴν ἥγησιν καὶ ἀνέστη ἀντὶ ᾿Ιούδα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.

³²Καὶ ἔγνω Βακχίδης καὶ ἐζήτει αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι.

³³καὶ ἔγνω ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ Σίμων ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πάντες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγον εἰς τὴν ἔρημον Θεκωὲ καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐπὶ τὸ ὕδωρ λάκκου ᾿Ασφάρ.

³⁴καὶ ἔγνω Βακχίδης τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων καὶ ἦλθεν αὐτὸς καὶ πᾶν τὸ στράτευμα αὐτοῦ πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου.

³⁵καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἡγούμενον τοῦ ὄχλου καὶ παρεκάλεσε τοὺς Ναβαταίους φίλους αὐτοῦ παραθέσθαι αὐτοῖς τὴν ἀποσκευὴν αὐτῶν τὴν πολλήν.

³⁶καὶ ἐξῆλθον υἱοὶ ᾿Ιαμβρὶ ἐκ Μηδαβὰ καὶ συνέλαβον ᾿Ιωάννην καὶ πάντα, ὅσα εἶχε, καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἔχοντες.

³⁷μετὰ δὲ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ Σίμωνι τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ὅτι οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ιαμβρὶ ποιοῦσι γάμον μέγαν καὶ ἄγουσι τὴν νύμφην ἀπὸ Ναδαβάθ, θυγατέρα ἑνὸς τῶν μεγάλων μεγιστάνων Χαναὰν μετὰ παραπομπῆς μεγάλης.

³⁸καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ᾿Ιωάννου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέβησαν καὶ ἐκρύβησαν ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην τοῦ ὄρους.

³⁹καὶ ᾖραν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ θροῦς καὶ ἀποσκευὴ πολλή, καὶ ὁ νυμφίος ἐξῆλθε καὶ οἱ φίλοι αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν μετὰ τυμπάνων καὶ μουσικῶν καὶ ὅπλων πολλῶν.

⁴⁰καὶ ἐξανέστησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐνέδρου οἱ περὶ τὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς, καὶ ἔπεσον τραυματίαι πολλοί, καὶ οἱ ἐπίλοιποι ἔφυγον εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ ἔλαβον πάντα τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν.

⁴¹καὶ μετεστράφη ὁ γάμος εἰς πένθος καὶ ἡ φωνὴ μουσικῶν αὐτῶν εἰς θρῆνον.

⁴²καὶ ἐξεδίκησαν τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αἵματος ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν εἰς τὸ ἕλος τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου.

⁴³καὶ ἤκουσε Βακχίδης καὶ ἦλθε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων ἕως τῶν κρηπίδων τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου ἐν δυνάμει πολλῇ.

⁴⁴καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῖς παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἀναστῶμεν νῦν καὶ πολεμήσωμεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν, οὐ γάρ ἐστι σήμερον ὡς ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν·

⁴⁵ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὁ πόλεμος ἐξεναντίας ἡμῶν καὶ ἐξόπισθεν ἡμῶν, τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν καὶ ἕλος καὶ δρυμός, οὐκ ἔστι τόπος τοῦ ἐκκλῖναι·

⁴⁶νῦν οὖν κεκράξατε εἰς οὐρανόν, ὅπως διασωθῆτε ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν.

⁴⁷καὶ συνῆψεν ὁ πόλεμος· καὶ ἐξέτεινεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ πατάξαι τὸν Βακχίδην, καὶ ἐξέκλινεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.

⁴⁸καὶ ἐνεπήδησεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην καὶ διεκολύμβησαν εἰς τὸ πέραν, καὶ οὐ διέβησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην.

⁴⁹καὶ διέπεσον παρὰ Βακχίδου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ εἰς χιλίους ἄνδρας.

⁵⁰καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν πόλεις ὀχυρὰς ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ, τὸ ὀχύρωμα τὸ ἐν ῾Ιεριχὼ καὶ τὴν ᾿Αμμαοὺς καὶ τὴν Βαιθωρὼν καὶ τὴν Βαιθὴλ καὶ τὴν Θαμναθὰ Φαραθωνὶ καὶ τὴν Τεφὼν ἐν τείχεσιν ὑψηλοῖς καὶ πύλαις καὶ μοχλοῖς·

⁵¹καὶ ἔθετο φρουρὰν ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἐχθραίνειν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ.

⁵²καὶ ὠχύρωσε τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἐν Βαιθσούρᾳ καὶ τὴν Γάζαρα καὶ τὴν ἄκραν καὶ ἔθετο ἐν αὐταῖς δυνάμεις καὶ παραθέσεις βρωμάτων.

⁵³καὶ ἔλαβε τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἡγουμένων τῆς χώρας ὅμηρα καὶ ἔθετο αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἄκρᾳ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἐν φυλακῇ.

⁵⁴Καὶ ἐν ἔτει τρίτῳ καὶ πεντηκοστῷ καὶ ἑκατοστῷ μηνὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἐπέταξεν ῎Αλκιμος καθαιρεῖν τὸ τεῖχος τῆς αὐλῆς τῶν ἁγίων τῆς ἐσωτέρας· καὶ καθεῖλε τὰ ἔργα τῶν προφητῶν καὶ ἐνήρξατο τοῦ καθαιρεῖν.

⁵⁵ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἐπλήγη ῎Αλκιμος καὶ ἐνεποδίσθη τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπεφράγη τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ παρελύθη καὶ οὐκ ἐδύνατο ἔτι λαλῆσαι λόγον καὶ ἐντείλασθαι περὶ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ.

⁵⁶καὶ ἀπέθανεν ῎Αλκιμος ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ μετὰ βασάνου μεγάλης.

⁵⁷καὶ εἶδε Βακχίδης ὅτι ἀπέθανεν ῎Αλκιμος, καὶ ἀπέστρεψε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα. καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ᾿Ιούδα ἔτη δύο.

⁵⁸Καὶ ἐβουλεύσαντο πάντες οἱ ἄνομοι λέγοντες· ἰδοὺ ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ κατοικοῦσι πεποιθότες· νῦν οὖν ἄξομεν τὸν Βακχίδην, καὶ συλλήψεται αὐτοὺς πάντας ἐν νυκτὶ μιᾷ.

⁵⁹καὶ πορευθέντες συνεβουλεύσαντο αὐτῷ.

⁶⁰καὶ ἀπῇρε τοῦ ἐλθεῖν μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐπιστολὰς λάθρᾳ πᾶσι τοῖς συμμάχοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ, ὅπως συλλάβωσι τὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ τοὺς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἐδύναντο, ὅτι ἐγνώσθη αὐτοῖς ἡ βουλὴ αὐτῶν.

⁶¹καὶ συνέλαβον ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῆς χώρας τῶν ἀρχηγῶν τῆς κακίας εἰς πεντήκοντα ἄνδρας καὶ ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς.

⁶²καὶ ἐξεχώρησεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ Σίμων καὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς Βαιθβασὶ τὴν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τὰ καθῃρημένα αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐστερέωσαν αὐτήν.

⁶³καὶ ἔγνω Βακχίδης καὶ συνήγαγε πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς ἐκ τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας παρήγγειλε·

⁶⁴καὶ ἐλθὼν παρενέβαλεν ἐπὶ Βαιθβασὶ καὶ ἐπολέμησεν αὐτὴν ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ ἐποίησε μηχανάς.

⁶⁵καὶ ἀπέλιπεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν Σίμωνα τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὴν χώραν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐν ἀριθμῷ.

⁶⁶καὶ ἐπάταξεν ῾Οδομηρὰ καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Φασιρὼν ἐν τῷ σκηνώματι αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐξήρξατο τύπτειν καὶ ἀναβαίνειν ἐν ταῖς δυνάμεσι.

⁶⁷καὶ Σίμων καὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξῆλθον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐνεπύρισαν τὰς μηχανάς·

⁶⁸καὶ ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς τὸν Βακχίδην, καὶ συνετρίβη ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν. καὶ ἔθλιβον αὐτὸν σφόδρα, ὅτι ἦν ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ ἔφοδος αὐτοῦ κενή.

⁶⁹καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ τοῖς ἀνδράσι τοῖς ἀνόμοις τοῖς συμβουλεύσασιν αὐτῷ ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὴν χώραν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν ἐξ αὐτῶν πολλοὺς καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο τοῦ ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ.

⁷⁰καὶ ἐπέγνω ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτὸν πρέσβεις τοῦ συνθέσθαι πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰρήνην καὶ ἀποδοῦναι αὐτοῖς τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν.

⁷¹καὶ ἀπεδέξατο καὶ ἐποίησε κατὰ τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῷ μὴ ἐκζητῆσαι αὐτῷ κακὸν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ·

⁷²καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἣν ᾐχμαλώτευσε τὸ πρότερον ἐκ γῆς ᾿Ιούδα, καὶ ἀποστρέψας ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ προσέθετο ἔτι ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὰ ὅρια αὐτῶν.

⁷³καὶ κατέπαυσε ῥομφαία ἐξ ᾿Ισραήλ· καὶ ᾤκησεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐν Μαχμάς. καὶ ἤρξατο ᾿Ιωνάθαν κρίνειν τὸν λαὸν καὶ ἠφάνισε τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς ἐξ ᾿Ισραήλ.

¹Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:

²Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people.

³Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:

⁴From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.

⁵Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with him:

⁶Who seeing the multitude of the other army to he so great were sore afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, insomuch as abode of them no more but eight hundred men.

⁷When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the battle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.

⁸Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go up against our enemies, if peradventure we may be able to fight with them.

⁹But they dehorted him, saying, We shall never be able: let us now rather save our lives, and hereafter we will return with our brethren, and fight against them: for we are but few.

¹⁰Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.

¹¹With that the host of Bacchides removed out of their tents, and stood over against them, their horsemen being divided into two troops, and their slingers and archers going before the host and they that marched in the foreward were all mighty men.

¹²As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.

¹³They also of Judas’ side, even they sounded their trumpets also, so that the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle continued from morning till night.

¹⁴Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,

¹⁵Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.

¹⁶But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing were discomfited, they followed upon Judas and those that were with him hard at the heels from behind:

¹⁷Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.

¹⁸Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

¹⁹Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

²⁰Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,

²¹How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!

²²As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.

²³Now after the death of Judas the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the coasts of Israel, and there arose up all such as wrought iniquity.

²⁴In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.

²⁵Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country.

²⁶And they made enquiry and search for Judas’ friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.

²⁷So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.

²⁸For this cause all Judas’ friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,

²⁹Since thy brother Judas died, we have no man like him to go forth against our enemies, and Bacchides, and against them of our nation that are adversaries to us.

³⁰Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.

³¹Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.

³²But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him

³³Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.

³⁴Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.

³⁵Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathites, that they might leave with them their carriage, which was much.

³⁶But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.

³⁷After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan.

³⁸Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain:

³⁹Where they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was much ado and great carriage: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and brethren, to meet them with drums, and instruments of musick, and many weapons.

⁴⁰Then Jonathan and they that were with him rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and made a slaughter of them in such sort, as many fell down dead, and the remnant fled into the mountain, and they took all their spoils.

⁴¹Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.

⁴²So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.

⁴³Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.

⁴⁴Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with us to day, as in time past:

⁴⁵For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water of Jordan on this side and that side, the marsh likewise and wood, neither is there place for us to turn aside.

⁴⁶Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.

⁴⁷With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.

⁴⁸Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto the other bank: howbeit the other passed not over Jordan unto them.

⁴⁹So there were slain of Bacchides’ side that day about a thousand men.

⁵⁰Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.

⁵¹And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.

⁵²He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.

⁵³Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.

⁵⁴Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded that the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary should be pulled down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets

⁵⁵And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his enterprises hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak any thing, nor give order concerning his house.

⁵⁶So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.

⁵⁷Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest two years.

⁵⁸Then all the ungodly men held a council, saying, Behold, Jonathan and his company are at ease, and dwell without care: now therefore we will bring Bacchides hither, who shall take them all in one night.

⁵⁹So they went and consulted with him.

⁶⁰Then removed he, and came with a great host, and sent letters privily to his adherents in Judea, that they should take Jonathan and those that were with him: howbeit they could not, because their counsel was known unto them.

⁶¹Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.

⁶²Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and they repaired the decays thereof, and made it strong.

⁶³Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.

⁶⁴Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made engines of war.

⁶⁵But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth himself into the country, and with a certain number went he forth.

⁶⁶And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.

⁶⁷And when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces, Simon and his company went out of the city, and burned up the engines of war,

⁶⁸And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.

⁶⁹Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, inasmuch as he slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.

⁷⁰Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he should make peace with him, and deliver them the prisoners.

⁷¹Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and sware unto him that he would never do him harm all the days of his life.

⁷²When therefore he had restored unto him the prisoners that he had taken aforetime out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way into his own land, neither came he any more into their borders.

⁷³Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.